[kj] Damned Damned Damned

[B. Oliver Sheppard]

1983 and 2002 were NOT good years for The Damned. Don't judge'em on 
those dates. Like Killing Joke, the quality varies dramatically over the 
aeons and countless lineup changes.

Just as I really dislike Killing Joke from 1986-1989, between Night Time 
and Extremities, so I do not like anything The Damned made 1980. 
Pre-1980 The Damned is the shit. The Black Album from 1980 has its 
moments but that was the beginning of the end, sorry to say, as far as I 
am concerned. Nothing they've released after it has really impressed me. 
Okay, except MAYBE the Friday the13th EP which someone mentioned. But 
it's mostly 1979 and backwards where The Damned are the good band I 
think of.

They have made a lot of bad image, music, and career choices since then. 
Vanian is now going the aging Roy Orbison route, a self-trained crooner 
who I think embellishes songs way too much now, singing a completely 
different style than he did on the 1st LP. So when the new Damned try to 
play their old songs, it doesn't sound the same at all. Also, 1983 was 
the year Strawberries came out, not an album I like except like 2 songs.

-Oliver


GREG SLAWSON wrote:

>

> Oh yeah, and please don't come my house an d knife me, but most 

> overrated punk band:

>

> The Dammed! I don't really know there music apart from the "hits", but 

> have seen them twice--around 83 and around 2002--and could never 

> figure out what the fuss was about. Sound like a 2nd or 3rd rate 

> pub/pop/punk band w/o lots of good songs. They were tight and put on a 

> good show (more interesting than the Buzzcocks, for example, who have 

> much much better material but aren't anything special live..) but I 

> don't put them in the same league as the Clash, Ramones. Buzzcocks,  

> Stiff Little Fingers, etc.

>